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State of Washington 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 



THE FISHERIES 



OF THE 



STATE OF WASHINGTON 



By L. H. DARWIN, 

State Fish Commissioner 
State Game Warden 



Issued by the 

State Bureau of Statistics amd Immigration 




I. M. HOWELL, Sec'y of State. HARRY F. GILES, 

Ex-Officio Commissioner Deputy Commissioner 



OI.YMPIA. WASH. 
FUANK M. I.AMIiORN JjSS^a I'ritl.lC I'ltlNTKU 
1916 




3 03 



n. of fD, 

AUG 4.4---1918 






THE FISHERIES OF THE STATE OF 
WASHINGTON 



Value of Output. 

Washington's fisheries resources are the greatest of all states in 
the Union and also the best fish, species for species, because the Pa- 
cfic Ocean of which the waters of the State are tributary, is classed as 
a cold water, while the Atlantic is a warm water ocean. 

The fishing industry in this state stands third, being outranked 
only by agriculture and lumbering. And what a vast resource it is 
may be ascertained fi'om the incomplete figures compiled by the 
State Fish Commissioner's office for the year 1913, which was the 
year of the quadrennial sockeye salmon run. Under the law, as it 
existed at that time, only partial reports were made to the Fish 
Commissioner's office, but these reports, incomplete as they were, 
showed the value of the canned salmon product alone was $12,937,- 
006.78, while the value of the other salmon fisheries reported in- 
creased the grand total to $15,215,674.73. 

No record is obtainable of the value of the other fish, but it is 
safe to say that in 1913 the total value of the output of Washington's 
varieties of food fish and shell fish reached a grand total of $20,000,- 
000.00. 

In 1914 the figures were as incomplete as in 1913, but in that 
year the value, as far as figures were obtainable was $8,168,264.46 
while the total was undoubtedly about $14,000,000.00. 

Leading Species. 

To date the identity of 180 salt water and 30 fresh water species, 
or 210 in all, has been established in the waters of this state. Of these 
50 salt water and 6 fresh water varieties, or 56 in all, are edible. At 
the head of the list stands the salmon. The principal species are 
Chinook, also known as Springs, Tyees, Blackmouth or King; the Sock- 
eye, the Silverside, the Humpback, the Chum or Dog as it is often 
locally called, and the Steelhead. 

The choicest of the varieties canned, and on an average possibly 
the largest quantity, are the Chinook and Sockeye. These are the 
red salmon. Following them come the Silverside, which is medium 
red, and Humpback which is known as pink salmon; while the Chum 
or Dog demands the lowest price because of the fact that it is white 
meated. 

As the Chum or ,Dog salmon is just as highly flavored and has all 
the food values possessed by the higher priced kind, the fact that it 



does not command as high a price in the can as the Chinook, Sockeye 
or Humpback is because of the fact that the public was first educated 
to the red meated salmon. 

The Steelhead, which is a deep pink, is mostly sold fresh, com- 
paratively few being canned. It is classed by the U. S. Bureau of 
Fisheries as a trout. The average weight of a Steelhead is 11 pounds. 
They are iced and shipped fresh in enormous quantities to the Eastern 
markets where they command fancy prices. The Chinook salmon is 
also shipped fresh to the Eastern markets in large quantities. This 
variety is also what is called mild-cured and shipped to Germany and 
other foreign markets, where it is preserved by other processes and 
then disposed of at very high prices. 

Value of Equipment. 

On November 30, 1915, the date of the last report made to the 
Fish Commissioner's office, there were 56 canneries in the State of 
Washington, and according to these reports, the value of the plants and 
operating appliances was $5,317,753.72. The reports required by the 
fishing laws of the State do not furnish all the data as to the amount 
of money invested in the fisheries and fish taking aijpliances. However, 
it reaches a staggering sum. One of the items upon which no valuation 
is required by law is the purse seines. At this time there are some 300 
in the State of Washington, and the average value of one of the boats 
equipped with seine is about $7,000, so that their total value would be 
$2,100,000.00. These boats are, in about 95 per cent, of the cases, owned 
by individual fishermen. 

Then comes the boats and appliances owned by gill netters, 
traps, fish wheels, and scow wheels. 

During the fiscal year of 1915, there were 610 fish trap licenses 
issued. Of this number 271 were in the Puget Sound District; 258 in 
Columbia River District; 50 in the Willapa Harbor District and 31 
in the Grays Harbor district. 

Cost of Trap Construction. 
The expensive traps to construct are those on Puget Sound. All 
the traps for which licenses are issued are not constructed each year 
on Puget Sound. But about 80 per cent, of those licensed are con- 
structed each year, while ihe law requires that in order to hold a lo- 
cation here a trap must be constructed at least every four years. 
Some of the traps on Puget Sound annually cost $14,000.00 and they 
are torn out at the end of the fishing season, only to be put in again 
the next year. It is safe to say that there is no trap on Puget Sound 
which costs less than $5,000.00 to construct each year. The fish traps 
on Columbia River, Grays Harbor and Willapa Harbor are much 
cheaper. In these districts they must be constructed every two years 
or the ownership is forfeited. 

Principal Salmon Runs. 

The principal salmon run of the Columbia River is the Chinook. 
There are also some Silverside, Steelhead and Blueback or Sockeye 



taken in this river, but not in quantities to permit their paclv to any 
thing like the extent that the Chinook are canned. In a commercial 
way, the Columbia River Chinook has for a number of years held 
supremacy but in the last few years the Puget Sound Sockeye has been 
gaining in favor so fast that the price of the Columbia River Chinook 
and the Puget Sound Sockeye is now about the same. 

International Dispute. 
On Puget Sound the Sockeye salmon holds the favorite place. 
Once every four years they run in enormous quantities. Their native 
stream is the Fraser River, in the tributaries of which it is safe to 
say 98 per cent, of the Sockeye caught on Puget Sound are hatched. 
All the salmon species return to the streams in which they were 
hatched, or at least to streams in the vicinity of those in which they 
were hatched. The returning Sockeye in attempting to reach the 
Fraser River, first passes through American waters, and the American 
fisherman is thus given first chance at them. This has been a source 
of great friction between the fishing industries of British Columbia 
and the State of Washington. As this friction intensified, it grew to 
International importance and an attempt to adjust matters was made 
by a joint high commission, appointed by the United States and the 
Dominion of Canada Governments four or five years since. The ti'eaty 
adjusted all the fishery disputes between the two governments from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific Coasts. It was ratified by the Canadian 
Government, and was first ratified by the American Senate, but 
Congress afterwards refused to pass the necessary laws to make it 
effective and it has since been rejected by the Canadian Government. 
As a result of the failure to reach an agreement, the Canadian Gov- 
ernment has withdrawn nearly all fishing restrictions on the Fraser 
River, with the full knowledge that this action will permit the rapid ex- 
tinction of the Sockeye run. 

Experimenting to Increase Sockeye Run. 

With the adoption of this destructive policy by the Canadian 
(British Columbia) Government last year, the Fisheries Department 
of the State of Washington started experimenting, trying to hatch 
Sockeye salmon on the American side. The only American stream 
which the Sockeye enters is the Skagit River, up which possibly 2 
per cent, of them ascend. The Fisheries Department of the State 
started in by taking Sockeye salmon from traps situated from 14 to 
15 miles distant from the Samish River, on which the State of Wash- 
ington has a large hatchery, and towing these fish in live boxes to 
the mouth of this river where they were liberated into the stream 
across which a rack or fence was constructed, to prevent their re- 
turning to salt water. The result of the fisheries arrangements, 
despite adverse climatic conditions, was highly satisfactory, more 
than 1,000,000 fish being hatched from the eggs taken from the fish 
conveyed to the Samish river the first year. 

This year the experiment is being repeated on a larger scale, 
and it is believed that twice as many eggs will be hatched as last. If 



this year's experiments are ijroportionally successful as last year's, the 
Fisheries Department of this Stale will definitely enter upon the work 
of trying to hatch Sockeye in much larger quantities. It is immat«>rial 
whether or not by this method the Department is enabled to establish 
a run of the Sockeye in American streams, for the eggs can be secured 
each year in the same manner in which they were first obtained and 
the work will go on just the same, and whether or not the fish return 
to the American stream or Fraser river, matters not, for in any event 
the fish first enter American waters and give American fishermen first 
opi)ortunity to take them. 

Life of the Salmon. 

The life of the different salmon si)ecies varies. The so-called 
Chinook of the Columbia River, which is also called the Spring, King, 
or Tyee on Puget Sound, and Blackmouth or Tyee on Willapa Harbor 
is one especially which seems to have a varying age of from four to 
in some instances six and one half years. Undoubtedly the big ma- 
jority of them return at the age of four years. The Sockeye on the 
other hand is classed as a straight four year old fish, as is the Silver- 
side and the Chum or Dog. The Humpback obtains his majority and 
returns in two years. Of the above mentioned species (Chinook, 
Sockeye, Silverside, Chum, Humpback) die within a day or two after 
spawning. The only other species of salmon found in Washington 
waters is the Steelhead, w'hich the Government calls a trout. This 
species does not die at the time of spawning, and as far as is known 
has no age limit, and in speaking of species of salmon it must be 
borne in mind that there are undoubtedly several varieties of Chinook, 
and this is true of the Sockeye, which in some localities, notably Grays 
Harbor, are called Quinault and in the Columbia River Blu'eback. The 
different members may vary slightly, but they all belong to the same 
general family. 

Dr. Gilbert of Stanford University, iiossibly the leading authority of 
the life and habits of the Sockeye salmon has expressed the opinion 
that likely Puget Sound and the country northward to Alaska offers 
the best opportunity on the face of the known world for the mainten- 
ance of the fish supply. This is because of the fact that all species of 
salmon hatched in fresh waters make their way rather young to salt 
water, and return to their parent stream to deposit their spawn there, 
themselves dying in turn; for the salmon is one of the few members 
of the animal family that cannot beget without ceasing. It is the opin- 
ion of many i)ractical hatcherymen that nature, by causing the death 
of the parent fish at the time of the spawning thus provides a food 
supply for the young salmon when they are born. The spawning 
salmon make their way up the fresh water streams to gravel beds 
where the female scoops out a round hole in the gravel in which she 
deposits her eggs. The salmon are monogamous, pairing off after 
they attain the siiawning grounds. So it is that the egg of the female 
is immediately fertilized by the male swimming alongside, then the 
male fills the hole \vith gravel which the female has scooped out, 



thus covering- the eggs; this to prevent the trout and other fish which 
follow the salmon up stream from devouring then. Nature allows the 
parents to survive for two or three days during which time they hover 
over the spot where the female has deposited her eggs, and then they 
gradually weaken, float down stream a short distance and die. 

State Hatcheries. 

To maintain the enormous supply of food and game fish the 
State of Washington maintains or will be maintaining h,v the close 
of the fiscal year of 1916, a grand total of 33 hatchei'ies or as many 
in number lacking one as are maintained by the United States Govern- 
ment. Of this number 26 are classed as salmon hatcheries and 7 as 
trout hatcheries, but quite a few of the salmon hatcheries are used 
for hatching trout as well as salmon, and vice versa — a number of 
trout hatcheries are used to hatch salmon as well as trout. 

The laws of Washington divide the state into four fishing dis- 
tricts; known respectively as Puget Sound, Columbia River, Grays 
Harbor and Willapa Harbor. The largest of these districts is Puget 
Sound, which contains from 75 per cent, to 80 per cent, of our fisher- 
ies resources. Following this, comes the Columbia River, containing 
some 15 per cent., while Grays Harbor and Willapa Harbor districts 
make up the remainder. 

Of the 26 salmon hatcheries 16 are located in the Puget Sound 
district; these are Dungeness, Elwha, Green River, Green River Eye- 
ing Station, Nisqually, Nooksack, Middle Fork Nooksack, South Fork 
Nooksack, Pilchuck, Chambers Creek, Samish, Skagit, Skokomish, 
Snohomish, Startup and Stillaguamish; 6 are situated in the Columbia 
River district, namely: Chinook, Kalama, Lewis River, Pateros- 
Methow, Wenatchee, Wind River, two in Grays Harbor district, Che- 
halis and Humptulips, and 2 in Willapa Harbor district, Willapa and 
NTorth River. Of the total of 26 salmon hatcheries at this time, 10 
have been constructed within the last three years. In addition to 
the construction of these ten new hatcheries during this period, the 
capacity of one of the other hatcheries has been increased five fold, an- 
other four fold and another three fold, while the capacity of many of 
the other hatcheries has been doubled or increased considerably over 
what it was prior to three years ago. 

As a result, the hatcheries of the State of Washington, which 
during the season of 1911-1912 had a take of 77.900,000 eggs, during 
the season of 1915-1916 had a take of 158.400,000 eggs. In short, in 
the three years the take of the Washington salmon hatcheries has 
been more than doubled. The straight trout hatcheries number 7, 
and are known as the Lake Chelan, the Spokane, the Little Spokane, 
and the Walla Walla, Lewis River, Tilton River and Lake Crescent. 
Four of these seven have been constructed during the last three 
years, while the take of the trout eggs, which in the season of 1911- 
1912 was in round numbers 2,900,000, has increased during the season 
of 1915-1916 to over 17,000,000. 

During the season of 1911-1912, it is estimated that it cost the 



state 88 8-10 cents per thousand to hatch salmon eggs, while during 
the season of 1915-1916, the cost will not exceed 30 cents per thousand. 

United States Hatcheries. 

While the exact figures of what it cost the United States Govern- 
ment to hatch salmon eggs in the State of Washington are not avail- 
able, enough is known to warrant the assertion that it costs the 
Federal Government many times as much as it does the State, and 
this is one of the many reasons why the State has always opposed 
any action looking to the Federal Government taking over control 
of its fisheries. The United States Government at this time main- 
tains five or more salmon hatcheries in this state. 

It is estimated that in the State of Washington there are in the 
neighborhood of 60,000 people directly or indirectly dependent upon 
the fishing industry for their livelihood. The number has been rapidly 
increasing during the last 15 years. 

Hatcheries Increase Salmon Run. 

The ability to not only maintain but restore and in all likelihood 
increase the salmon run in some of the waters of the State has been 
absolutely demonstrated in the last few years. Notably has this 
been done in the Columbia River. For some 10 or 15 years the 
number of fish taken in this stream gradually decreased, owing to 
the extensive fishing operations carried on. However, the result of 
the establishment of hatcheries was first discernable three years ago 
(1913-14) when the run was larger than for several preceding years. 
The run in 1914-15 was the largest which had appeared in the Colum- 
bia River in 15 years, while as this is written the season of 1915-16 
is at its height with indications that despite the most abnormal 
climatic conditions which have been known in more than 25 years 
the number of fish entering the Columbia River this season will be 
almost as large as the great run of 1914-15. 

Fishermen regai-d the Columbia River now as a restored stream. 

The Fisheries Department of Washington feeling that the world 
conditions of the last two years means that the people must look to 
the waters for their meat supply more than ever before will not rest 
content with simply restoring the depleted salmon runs in the Wash- 
ington streams, but are trying to go further, and have intensive cul- 
tivation of the sea as there is today in many places intensive cultiva- 
tion of the land. 

Edible Varieties. 

Because of the richness of our fishery resource, some varieties 
of fish which are used in the East are hardly classed as a table fish 
in Washington. Some Halibut and quite a few Sturgeon are in 
Washington waters, while smelt and herring abound. The Shad and 
Cod are taken in goodly quantities, as are Sole and Flounders. Salt 
water Perch also abound. The above mentioned fish are all present 
in large commercial quantities, and within the last few years the 
presence of certain Asiatic and European peoples have created a 

10 



great demand for the devil fish, which is highly regarded by them as 
a food fish. These same people also make use of Carp. Carp were 
introduced in some of the waters in this State 15 or 20 years since, 
and have thrived to the point where the Fisheries Dei)artment for 
the last few years is encouraging their destruction. 

All the above named varieties of fish maintain their supply natur- 
ally — the State devoting itself exclusively to the pro))agation of sal- 
mon among the food fish and trout among the game fish. 

Clam Fisheries. 

In the matter of shell fish, Washington enjoys a unique distinc- 
tion for our oyster (particularly the Puget Sound) small though they 
be, are the highest priced of any oyster produced on the American 
continent, while the Washington clam and crab enjoy the same dis- 
tinction. Of the shell fish variety our clams lead in value of output 
as well as volume. Next to the Washington salmon clams are put 
into cans more extensively than any other variety of fish. 

During the present fiscal year, licenses have been issued to 6 
clam canneries in this State. 

During the fiscal year ending November 1, 1915, there were 
23,896 cases of clams packed in Washington, with a value of $143,- 
376.00. 

While there are many varieties, the leading ones are known as 
the Razor clams, found only on the Pacific Ocean Beach, and the 
Puget Sound clam, which abounds in the inland salt waters of the 
State. The Pacific Ocean clam has a pure white meat and a delicacy 
of flavor that makes it the highest priced on the market. 

Oyster Fisheries. 

The Puget Sound oyster, which is hermaphrodite, as distinguished 
from the bisexual Atlantic Coast oyster, is much smaller than the 
average Eastern variety, but is also much firmer and more toothsome. 

Formerly they grew in large quantities in natural beds. Before 
the State got around to preserving these natural beds, many of the 
choicest of them had been taken up by individuals whose title there- 
to has been confirmed. However, some 14,000 acres of land have 
been withdrawn for oyster reserve purposes, either because at the 
time, or prior to their withdrawal they had been natural oyster beds 
or it was believed at a future time they would become such. For 
many years so great was the supply that small attention was given 
them, with the result that by 1913, the State Reserves had been almost 
depleted. 

While the State has been negligent on Puget Sound, many pri- 
vate owners have not been, but have prepared their land for intensive 
oyster cultivation, by diking and grading. 

The theory of holding the State's natural oyster grounds is to 
insure a seed supply to the growers at a nominal price. Consequently 
the State in 1913' started to follow the example of the private indi- 

11 



viduals and conuneiiced dikiiit; (he first of their natural reserves on 
Puget Sound. 

The first one to be improved was part of wliat is known as the 
Hammersly Reserve, where ten acres have been graded and diked at 
a cost of $9,000. 

The second improvement undertaken by the State is now under 
way at what is known as the Clifton Reserve where in the neighbor- 
hood of 6 acres will be graded and diked by September 11, 1916. It 
is believed that within two years, with only these 16 acres improved, 
out of 14,000, the revenue derived from the oyster reserves will make 
the industry self supporting. 

The new law passed in 1915 will permit of the development of 
the State Reserves just as though they were owned by private indi- 
viduals. If it is the desire of the State, the funds are already pro- 
vided, under the law, whereby it will be possible to improve many 
acres of these reserves (which under our laws are reserved from sale 
or lease) in the succeeding years, and they can be made to yield the 
State a large revenue, if such is deemed the best policy. 

The principal oyster beds on Puget Sound are found in Thurston 
and Mason counties; in fact, to such an extent do they lie in this vi- 
cinity that the Puget Sound oyster is generally known as the Olympia 
oyster, and Olympia. the capital city of this State, is the center of the 
business. 

Privately cultivated beds are also found in Whatcom and Skagit 
counties, and some in Jefferson county. 

There were marketed during the year ending March 31, 1915, 
fi-om the Puget Sound district, 112,853 sacks of native oysters, worth 
$814,033.40, from 547 >-j acres; and 3,224 boxes of eastern oysters, 
worth $22,175.90, from 85 acres. During the same period the Willapa 
Harbor district produced 1,200 sacks of native oysters worth $8,400.00, 
from 2,200 acres; and 8,000 boxes of eastern oysters worth $56,000.00, 
from 1,500 acres. This represents a total yield of oysters amounting 
in value to $900,609.30, from lands worth $1,199,125. 

The shell of the Willapa Harbor oyster is much larger than that 
of the Puget Sound. Some ten years ago the first attempt was made 
to transplant Eastern oysters to the Pacific Coast. 

While the transplanted oysters would thrive and grow to a much 
larger size than if they had been permitted to remain in their native 
waters, it came to be the generally accepted belief that they would 
not propagate in Pacific Ocean waters. The conditions for oyster 
culture on Willapa Harbor is not nearly so favorable as on Puget 
Sound for the reason that this inlet is much nearer the ocean and the 
severe storms shift the sands so that diking, which has solved the 
situation on Puget Sound by preventing the exposure of the oyster 
to the heat of the summers and the cold of the winters, is not ad- 
visable on Willapa Harbor because the sand would readily fill in be- 
hind them. During the last year the state has attempted to assist 
nature on Willapa, Harbor, by cutting the grass on natural beds and 
by reculching them, and also by the use of what is known as "agi- 

13 



tators." These take the slime from the shells leaving them rougher 
and therefore better spat catchers. 

In the summer of 1915, Trevor Kincaid, professor of biology at the 
University of Washington discovered that in one of the favored spots 
in Willapa Harbor Eastern oysters were propagating naturally. Since 
that time investigations made by the fisheries department have dis- 
closed the fact that there is considerable area on Willapa Harbor 
where the Eastern oyster has reproduced, and during June and July, 
1916, the Eastern oysters which had been propagated on one of the 
State's Reserves were moved to a more favored locality in the hope 
that they had become sufficiently acclimated so that the area in 
which they would reproduce would be enlarged by their removal and 
replanting. 

Crab Fisheries. 

Of the shell fish, the future of the crab is the most promising, 
and is one of the future propagation tasks of the Fisheries Depart- 
ment. In places where they formerly abounded on Puget Sound they 
are now found in much fewer numbers. The great majority of crabs 
secured today in the State of Washington are along the Pacific Ocean 
shores in Grays Harbor, and Pacific counties. Of all those who make 
their livelihood from the sea the occupation of the crab fishermen is 
the most dangerous. His activities and exertions for the most part 
are around the mouth of the Columbia River, and the entrances of 
Willapa and Grays Harbor, and just inside the ocean's break. The 
best known is called the Dungeness Crab. 

The Game Fish of Washington. 

The choicest varieties to be found here are those which are na- 
tive to Washington waters. They are the Cutthroat and the Rain- 
bow and in almost as great a number is what is known as the Silver, 
which is, in reality, a land-locked Sockeye salmon. These are found 
in two of the lakes in this state which undoubtedly centuries ago had 
an outlet into salt water to which the salmon traveled. Some up- 
heaval of the country cut this off for such a time that these fish lost 
their desire to go out to salt water. They die every four years just 
as do the Sockeye when they reproduce their species. 

In addition to the native species of trout which are propagated 
extensively by the State, there has been introduced to our waters the 
Eastern Brook trout which thrived in some of the lakes of Eastern 
Washington, but does not seem to be able to survive in the waters 
of Western Washington. In addition to these are what are known as 
the Dolly Varden or Bull trout, which is the Pacific Coast equivalent 
of the Eastern Brook trout although as a rule he attains a larger 
growth than his Eastern brother, of the Char family. The native 
white fish is another most excellent table variety. Other varieties 
present in quantities are the Perch, Grayling, Crappie, Catfish, Bass, 
etc., etc. 

The Fisheries Department of the State is the only one charged 
with the duty of maintaining an industry; reforestation has not yet 
been accepted as one of the State's prerogatives, but it is universally 

14 



conceded that the hatcheries of the State must annually produce their 
seed supply of young fish or the harvest two or four years later will 
be short just in proportion as a large or small crop is planted. During 
the height of the salmon hatching season, which is in the Fall and 
Winter, the Fisheries Department of the State employs more than 
150 men. During the Summer, a large number of these men, includ- 
ing all of the hatchery superintendents are employed in the construc- 
tion of new hatcheries and in the diking of oyster beds. 

The Fisheries Department is also charged with the enforcing of 
all the laws of both food and game fish, for the State Fish Commis- 
sioner is also the State Game Warden. To aid in the enforcement of 
these laws the State maintains four patrol boats; two on Puget 
Sound, the "Governor Elisha P. Ferry," and the "Gov. John R. 
Rogers," one on the Columbia River, the "Governor .John H. McGraw," 
and one on Grays Harbor. A fifth boat is maintained by the State 
the "Gov. Henry McBride," which is used in connection with the 
operations of the Lake Crescent Trout Hatchery. 

Salmon Hatching. 

The time which it takes a salmon egg to hatch varies according 
to the temperature of the water. The average time from the fertiliza- 
tion of the egg until it hatches, varies from 60 to 90 days. The usual 
period for the liberation of the salmon fry is the time when what 
is known as the eggsack is absorbed. 

This egg sack is nature's food supply, and is gradually absorbed 
into and becomes the stomach of the salmon. It is generally from 30 
to 60 days from the time the fish is hatched to the time this absorp- 
tion has taken place, and until a few years ago, the rule in the Fish- 
eries Department was to liberate the fry at this time. However, dur- 
ing the last few years the practice of feeding the young fry for several 
months instead of immediately turning them loose has heen intro- 
duced and gradually enlarged until today at a majority of the hatch- 
eries a goodly portion of the output is fed for a time before being lib- 
erated, on the theory that the older and larger fish is much more cap- 
able of protecting itself from its natural enemies than the younger 
fry. When the eggs are taken at the hatcheries from all those species 
save the Steelhead, the female is killed before the eggs are taken 
from her, and a portion of the bodies of the parent salmon are pre- 
served in a mild salt solution and later on the flesh is freshened again, 
ground very fine and fed to the off-spring. In other words, the young 
fish are literally fed the bodies of their fathers and mothers. 

The State Fisheries Exhibit. 

The work of assembling this fisheries exhibit was begun some 
three years ago, and has been carried on steadily since. 

It has heen done without any direct appropriation made for the 
purpose, but the Department believed that the State will realize its 
value and the fact that it is symbolical of its third greatest industry, 
and will at no distant date make an approi)riation that will permit of 
its enlargement so that it will contain species, either alive or still, of 
every variety of fish to be found in Washington waters. 




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